For organizations committed to global inclusion, the greatest barriers are often logistical, not philosophical. Traditional sign language learning is limited by factors like limited numbers of qualified interpreters, geographic barriers, and the inability to provide real-time feedback, systemic challenges that prevent widespread Deaf accessibility.
But what if you could scale the expertise of Deaf educators worldwide using technology built on trust and co-creation? This is the mission of IncluEdu, the platform using AI-powered computer vision to transform sign language education into an accessible, interactive, and high-quality experience. As a recipient of the 2025 .ORG Impact Award for Quality Education, presented by the Public Interest Registry (PIR), IncluEdu exemplifies how deep mission alignment drives technological innovation.
In this interview, we sit down with the IncluEdu team to discuss their journey from a bootstrapped beginning, their rigorous commitment to “nothing about us without us,” and their strategy for building a scalable, sustainable solution that treats language access as a fundamental human right.
EFG: Your platform is a powerful example of using tech for good and to scale impact. How is your AI-powered technology changing sign language learning?
IE: Most people today still learn sign language either by going to a class when they can find one, or by watching videos. Both methods are important, but they have major limits: there aren’t enough qualified interpreters, it’s hard for learners to get feedback, and if you make a mistake, the video won’t correct you. This is a global problem, and for over 50 years, the way people learn sign language has barely changed. On top of that, there isn’t just one sign language; every country has its own, resulting in over 300 different signed languages globally.
At IncluEdu, we’re turning that old model into a much more interactive and precise experience. Using computer vision, our AI identifies the subtle patterns of hand movement and facial expression to validate the signs for each country’s unique sign language. You stand in front of your camera, you sign, and our AI analyzes your movement in real-time, telling you if your hand is too low, if the movement is incomplete, or if the sign is correct. It feels more like having a tutor next to you than just watching a screen.
We’ve used our AI to develop the full vocabulary for several sign languages around the world, respecting the specific grammar and features of each. This has allowed us to overcome a historical barrier and open the door to permanently transforming how sign language is learned at a global scale.
This change achieves three main things: many more people can practice, they can learn at their own pace, and they don’t need to live in a big city or have an interpreter nearby. For us, AI is not about replacing Deaf teachers; it’s about multiplying their impact and making sign language learning accessible in places where today it simply doesn’t exist.
EFG: Bootstrapped beginnings: what were the biggest challenges and key decisions early on?
IE: Bootstrapping sounds romantic, but it means a lot of hard choices. One big challenge was trust. We work with Deaf communities, and they have every reason to be cautious. We needed to show, over time, that we were here to stay and that Deaf leaders would have a real say in the product, not just appear in a pitch deck.
The second challenge was building serious technology with very limited money. Training AI models, collecting and cleaning data, and paying experts fairly all cost more than people imagine. We had to be extremely focused on what we built first and what we postponed.
Our key early decisions kept us on track:
- We committed to “nothing about us without us” as a rule. Deaf leaders and interpreters are part of the design and validation from the start.
- We focused on a few pilots to maximize learning, instead of trying to be “everywhere.”
- We chose partners who cared deeply about inclusion and education, even if that meant saying no to faster, less aligned opportunities.
Those decisions were sometimes slow and uncomfortable, but they are the reason the project is still coherent today.
EFG: What’s the core philosophy of your programs, and how do you measure success?
IE: At the heart of everything we do is a simple idea: access to sign language is a right, not a luxury or a hobby. Our philosophy is to learn directly from Deaf communities, center their experience, make people practice sign language, and connect individual learning to real changes in schools, services, and workplaces.
We look at two levels of results. On the platform side, we track practice time, accuracy improvements, course completion, and user retention. But the most important part is what happens offline: Are teachers using sign language in the classroom? Are patients talking to their doctors? Are front desk staff prepared to serve Deaf clients? When we start hearing those stories from institutions and Deaf users, that’s when we know the programs are truly working.
EFG: You received the 2025 .ORG Impact Award for Quality Education. What did this award mean to you, and how has it changed your work?
IE: The .ORG Impact Award was very emotional. We started IncluEdu with our own savings and a lot of uncertainty, so being recognized on a global stage for Quality Education felt like a huge validation that we are on the right path.
It has helped in concrete ways. When we talk to ministries, schools, or companies, it gives them confidence that this is an internationally recognized solution. It also opened doors to conversations we probably wouldn’t have had so soon. Internally, it gave the team and our Deaf collaborators a huge boost. Many of them have been pushing for accessibility for years, often with very little recognition. The award belongs to them, too.
EFG: Beyond the .ORG Impact Award visibility, how is the Public Interest Registry supporting your next phase of growth?
IE: The real treasure is the network. We now have access to other organizations dealing with similar questions: how to grow without losing your mission, how to design sustainable models in the Global South, and so on. Being able to learn from them and share mistakes is incredibly valuable.
We’re also excited about potential partnerships. Many organizations in the .ORG community work in education, disability rights, and public services. Sign language crosses all those fields. Our dream is to integrate IncluEdu into broader inclusion programs, becoming one of the essential tools that help make a whole system more accessible.
EFG: You were also a finalist in the 2024 TecPrize Competition, hosted by Institute for the Future of Education at Tecnológico de Monterrey. How did participating in this challenge help your long-term goals?
IE: TecPrize was like a reality check and a mini “school.” Mentors pushed us to be much clearer about our impact: What exactly changes in the life of a student or a public servant when they use IncluEdu? The process was a great lesson in communicating our value to decision-makers. We also met university leaders, researchers, and other EdTech startups across Latin America, and some of them have become partners or advisors. The recognition helped with credibility, but the bigger value was joining a community that understands the opportunities and obstacles of this work in our region.
EFG: How do you keep co-creation with Deaf leaders authentic and equitable? And how do you advocate with governments?
IE: We constantly remind ourselves that sign languages don’t belong to us; they belong to Deaf communities. This changes how you make decisions. In each country, we work with Deaf leaders and interpreters who tell us which signs to prioritize, what is culturally appropriate, and what “good” signing looks like. They are paid for that expertise, they are credited, and their feedback can and often does change our roadmap. Sometimes it means we go slower, but it’s the only way this makes sense.
With governments, our message is that sign language training is not a “nice to have workshop;” it’s basic infrastructure for inclusion. If teachers, doctors, police officers, or front desk staff don’t have even a basic level of sign language, then a large part of the population is effectively excluded. Our success comes when public institutions use IncluEdu to train their teams and open up access for learners with disabilities through scholarships. That’s when you see sign language integrated into everyday public service.
EFG: In the social enterprise space, balance is key: how do you balance achieving significant social impact with meeting your business goals and ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of IncluEdu?
IE: We think of impact and sustainability as two sides of the same coin. If we only focus on impact, the project will collapse. If we only focus on money, we’ll drift away from the people we’re supposed to serve.
Practically, we track impact and business metrics with the same seriousness. We want to know how many people are learning, but also if we can pay salaries and invest in the product. We work with institutions—schools, companies, governments—so that a portion of our revenue comes from organizations that can pay, which helps us offer more accessible options or scholarships. We are also strict about focus, saying no to short-term financial opportunities that would pull us away from our core mission. Being sustainable is part of our responsibility toward the communities we serve; they need solutions that will still be here in five or ten years.
EFG: What’s your long-term vision for impact?
IE: In simple terms, our vision is that learning sign language should be as common and accessible as learning any other language online. We’re working toward a world where the specific sign language of any country can be learned using the same AI engine that already understands and respects the differences between the 300+ sign languages globally.
We want a world where:
- A deaf child can expect that at least some of the adults around them know sign language.
- Institutions see sign language as part of offering quality service, not as an extra.
- People can start learning from home, with a camera, without waiting months or years for a course to open.
If IncluEdu can help make that normal across many countries and several sign languages, then we’ll feel we’ve used technology in the right way.
EFG: What is one piece of advice you would give to other entrepreneurs who are considering bootstrapping a mission-driven organization and striking the balance between impact and business success?
IE: Be very clear about what you will never compromise on, and be flexible with almost everything else.
When you bootstrap, you need to know which part of your mission is sacred. In our case, it’s working with Deaf leaders and keeping inclusion at the center. That clarity helps when you’re tired, when money is short, or when a tempting opportunity doesn’t quite fit your values.
At the same time, be flexible: your first product, your pricing, and your channels will change. Listen, test, and adjust. Don’t fall in love with your first idea. Finally, even if you’re not taking investor money, don’t try to do it alone. Look for mentors, peer founders, and programs that share your values. Their support and perspective can save you from very expensive mistakes.
